Resonant Blue

[Tsuji Momoko]

The resonance of sadness
echos in the night
I want to believe, someday
Someone, help me
HELP ME HELP ME HELP ME

CRY CRY How much
do you love me?
Tonight Tonight I won't kiss you
I won't kiss just for fun

The more I protected
you in my life
the less I was prepared
How stupid

That’s roughly a partial translation of my favorite song. I’ve always wondered why I like it so much; I am not in a relationship so I cannot relate to it. My head wouldn’t be able to get rid of this song; singing it just makes me smile. I liked that place; I could be alone, listen to music, and study at the same time. That's what I like to do... aside from constructing devices, of course. Getting my favorite drink for free is just another great bonus.

“♪ Cry Cry Donokurai watashi wo suki na no? ♪” My voice whispered, remembering the nice verses.

“Here is your warm water” the waitress placed a steaming mug in my table, and after I thanked her she retired.

‘I don't feel like reading today...’ I thought while I stired the water with my spoon, ‘am I getting bored of my favorite activities? No, I don't think that's a possibility. I'll have a break, but just for today. I'm sure I'll be able to focus on my studies if I do something different today. But... what should I do?’

I really didn’t feel like walking that day (yesterday’s night had been a hectic one, I was exhausted). I wasn’t the only one in the slow mood though, a guy before me sat gaunt on his chair, I could tell he was bored. Well, being honest, everyone seemed bored that day.

'I wonder what dad is doing at home' I resumed, 'He may be working on his new robotic assistant' RM77 had always been a good one, then I could not see what reasons he would have to replace him. 'He could have upgraded RM77, it would have been easier. I'd create one for myself, but I don't like the idea of going around with someone - I mean, with something. I'm better alone; just me and my books. Oh, and my paralyzer, but I don't use it that often.'

My hand brought the mug to my face, though I paused before drinking.

‘That brings to my mind... I haven't trained in ages, I'm sure I'm way too slow right now. In that way, I'm like a robot, I'm exactly like RM77. We both have predetermined activities, and we are both really slow. Ok, I'm exaggerating, but I'm sure I'm not as quick as I used to be when I was at the ninja school. What's more important? Being a ninja or being an engineer? Dad says I have to be both a great ninja and a great engineer, I hope I could be like him.’

Momoko slowly drinks her water.

[Raimeiken]

~Ring...

A bell echoed softly in the wind, permeating the quiet afternoon like a small butterfly on the wings of the summer breeze. Quiet and almost otherworldly sweet, it reached the pointed ears of a black-hair foxgirl as she diligently followed her master's footsteps through the small forest town.

"...?"

Setsuna glanced nervously over her shoulders, half-wondering where the sound came from. After all, the genko had not seen a single bell upon entering into this town... Underwood, as she found out from overhearing the people talk on their way from the Radasanthian Bazaar. But even still, there was something amiss with the air within this small logging town... something that pointed to a more immediate threat to her master's well-being...

...I'd better keep an eye out...

Nanakaze Setsuna shouldered the large pack as she continued to observe her surrounding, one hand always at the ready to unsheath Minagi in defense. After all, she had sworn to protect her charge no matter the dangers they might face... until death do they part.

...until death do us part...? Aiieee! I didn't mean it like that!

The disturbing image forced its way to the front of Setsuna's mind, causing her face to burn like a bright pink cherry.

Nai yo! Chigaimasu! I didn't mean it like that, Ojousama!

"Sets-chan~! Kochira yo~!"

Her master's call startled the maid from her self-imposed dilemma.

"AH-! Ah, wakarimashta ojousama!"

Locking the embarassing thoughts back into her mind, the maid quickly followed her cheerful master to a magnificent building standing in the center of the town.

...well, whatever that was... I hope it's gone...

But even as she entered the Peaceful Promenade, the quiet ringing of the bell could still be heard on the cool springtime winds.

Immediately upon entering the inn, the two foxgirls were greeted by a quiet early afternoon atmosphere. The maid's eyes quickly searched the common room for signs of danger, but found no one bearing the forms of a formidable fighter. There were some of the larger men occupying the bar, but from the smell of their drinks they were merely having mugs of water.

With a sigh of relief, Setsuna hoped there would be nothing else she would need to worry about. And judging by the work habits of these so-called lumberjacks, she figured that the more rowdy types would not be appearing around this place until close to nightfall.

...that smell-!

Alarms went off like mad as the familiar scent caught the genko's attention. The travellers' pack dropped with a resounding bang in the doorway and her hands immediately went for her hidden sword, the shirasaya Minagi remaining unsheathed only by the warrior-maid's force of will.

...ninja-!

Her eyes searched the room once more, attempting to pinpoint the direction of the perceived threat. To her, the ninja clans had always been at odds with the warrior clans as their doctrines clashed when it came to methods of conflict. For the demon slayer Setsuna, the sneaky methods of a shadow's servant would always be underhanded and dishonoring.

And as such, could not be trusted.

After a moment's search, her eyes fell upon a young human girl in dark ninja clothes. The demon slayer's eyes narrowed, wondering why a clandestine fighter would choose to be so openly brash with her identity...

[Tsuji Momoko]

As Momoko kept drinking her water, she found herself incapable of thinking of something different to do. She's way too used to her normal activities to break her usual routine. It's not uncommon for her to remain quiet and silent on a place. She actually liked the "peacefulness" of the The "Peaceful" Promenade.

'Mou oshimai da... It's hopeless, I'll have more water and read my lesson. Maybe I don't want to do something different after all'.

Momoko slightly yawned whe she suddenly noticed something strange. She was sure someone was watching her. Without moving, she looked around, but apparently couldn't find anyone. She started reading, pretending she didn't care.

'Who is this girl? Why is she looking at me? I don't think I've met her before'.

She left her seat and calmly walked towards a young girl with a harsh look on her face.

'Good afternoon'.

Momoko bowed in respect.

'My name is Tsuji Momoko, have we met before?'.

Momoko remained calm and serious as the girl looked at her, shocked about what just happened.

[Raimeiken]

H- How dare you-!

Setsuna kept her grim visage even as the girl gave her a polite greeting. Her hands became cold with sweat, her ears pricked in anticipation of the shadow warrior's attack.

How dare she ignore me like th-

"Konnichi wa, Tsuji-san."

The maid withdrew her breath sharply in surprise, wide eyes darting to her flame-hair master standing next to her in the doorway as the Kitsuna bowed gracefully in response to Momoko's greetings.

Ojousama-! What are you doing?!

"My name is Konoka of the Fujiwara clan. And this is my personal servant, Setsuna."

However bewildered the demon slayer was, Setsuna begrudgingly stowed her sheathed odachi and bowed as a good servant would do. Even though her mind remained ever wary of the ninja's motives, outwardly it was required to show no harm to the person whom her master had shown no harm to as well.

"I apologize if my servant had startled you, Tsuji-san. She is not yet used to traveling in this land." Konoka gave the girl a smile. "However, I believe we have not yet met. Would it be so kind if you would allow us to share a table with you?"

Setsuna remained quietly to the side, standing next to the large pack and tucking the shirasaya sword against her side. However, her eyes remained serious... anticipating any nasty surprises that might come to pass.

[Tsuji Momoko]

Momoko didn't mind sharing a table with them, and was still intrigued about the maid's attitude towards her. At first she thought it was because she was not a common visitor of the Peaceful Promenade, but apparently they weren't either.

'Of course, please follow me'.

As soon as they sat down, Momoko tried to monopolize the conversation by talking about herself. Not because she wanted them to know her better, she just wanted to know what exactly was bothering the devoted servant. Momoko was paying close attention to her reactions.

'...And I want to become a great robotic engineer, combining my engineering knowledge with my Ninja skills is way more useful than it sounds. I don't really like weapons, but this is my favorite one'.

Momoko put her electric zapper on the table, so both the kind girl and her servant could see it, but most important, she wanted to see how the maid would act. She was aware she was being perceived as a threat.

[Raimeiken]

...I don't like this, Ojousama.

Setsuna remained standing as her master cheerfully spoke to the ninja... about herself. The black Kitsuna could only glare suspiciously at the seemingly self-absorbed young human girl, filtering out the chattering words about how this girl was a ninja (that, Setsuna could already tell just by looking at the former's clothes) and other small things about herself. Setsuna did not even pay attention to the part where Momoko talked about wanting to become an engineer - her mind had already set itself upon the notion that anyone who was a ninja was not to be trusted.

Ojousama... Please be careful....

The maid could not risk relaying the verse to her Kitsuna master who was smiling... smiling even as though the person across the table belonged to a clan whose sole existence was that of deceit, fear and dishonor. It even surprised the maid her master Konoka, the heir to the Kitsuna's powerful onmyouji clan back home, was this friendly towards the stranger despite having been targeted by a rival clan's hired assassin many years before.

The assassin being none other than a servant of the shadows, one of the many Kitsuna ninja clans scattered throughout the land.

Even after all these years, Setsuna could still not bring herself to trust anyone clothed in the same cloth as that of the dishonorable assassins who attempted at her master's life.

"Oh wow. Did you make this all by yourself?"

Konoka's words suddenly broke through the maid's blanket of thoughts, drawing her attention to the oddly-shaped item on the table.

-Abunai-!

Her mind literally froze as she realized that the ninja had said it was one of her favorite weapon. To a chance observer, it would only look like the black-hair foxgirl was merely looking at the item on the table while her friend continued to chatter away. To any other Kitsuna, they could smell Setsuna's scent of fear from miles away.

"O- Ojousama. Please be careful..." Finally, Setsuna managed to draw up her courage to intervene just as Konoka asked the ninja engineer if she could touch the weapon. "I must apologize for my rudeness, Tsuji-san... but I cannot bring myself trust a ninja such as you..."

The maid made a slight bow, in sincere apology for her manners, but she continued on her speech.

"I must apologize, but I would like you to cease addressing yourself to my master."

Gomennasai, Ojousama... Setsuna realized the dilemma it would bring, but she had no choice other than let things go when it could harm her master's welfare. ...But I truly cannot bring myself to trust anyone bearing the name of a ninja...

[Taskmienster]

This thread has been sitting since before the beginning of this year (2009). Since no response has been made to create activity I am going to be moving this. If you would like it to be reopened please feel free to PM myself or another admin and they will be able to move it for you back to the Peaceful Promenade.